johngardner.winloseordie-第7章

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e　lessons　of　security　by　now。　I　have　to　be　hones！　with　you；　Clover；　I've　always　had　great　reservations　about　young　women　with　either　loud　voices；　or　runaway　tongues。　The　Royal　Navy　isn't　known　as　the　Silent　Service　for　nothing。　We've　〃an　almosi　unblemished　reputation　for　keeping　mouths　closed　and　ears　open。'
　〃I　know；　sir。　I'm　sorry。　I　jusl　thought　that　if　I　got　my　apology　out　of　the　way；　perhaps　。　。　；'
　Bond　could　not　make　up　his　mind　whether　she　was　jusl　a　garrulous　woman；　or　an　upper…class　gold　digger。
　'Perhaps　what？'
　'Well；　last　night　we　。。。〃
　'I　think　you'd　do　well　to　forget　about　last　night…　At　least　until　the　matters　on　your　conscience　are　over。'　In　case　he　was　being　too　harsh。　Bond　gave　her　a　tight　smile。　'Let's　see　how　i（　all　goes。　After　that；　anything's　possible。　We　could　meet　socially。　No　problem　there。'
　Clover　Pennington　looked　suitably　crestfallen；　pushed　her　plate　away；　made　a　muttered　excuse　and　left　the　wardroom。　Bond　quietly　finished　his　meal；　went　into　the　ante…room；　took　a　small　brandy　with　his　coffee；　then　headed　back　to　his　quarters。　Tomorrow　was　a　free　day；　but　for　him　it　would　be　a　full　tine。
　He　left　the　Royal　Naval　Air　Station　jusl　after　eight。　having　eaten　his　usual　breakfast。　Bond　was　beginning　to　realise　what　had　attracted　him　to　the　Navy　in　the　first　place。　He　was　a　man　of　routine；　and　enjoyed　the　privileges　（hat　came　with　rank。　But　now；　rank　was　put　to　one　side。　He　wore　civilian　clothes；　and　drove　the　BMW　with　caution；　keeping　his　eyes　on　the　rear…view　mirror。　Even　though　he　was　in　England；　this　was　an　operation　and　any　contact　with　his　real　Service　was　a　clandestine　matter　where　Field　Rules　applied。
　He　drove　to　Cheddar；　pleased　that　on　this　late　autumn　Sunday　there　were　few　other　people　on　the　road。　Certainly　he　appeared　to　be　free　of　any　surveillance　as　he　turned　off　ihe　main　road　and　headed　towards　a　modern　house　on　the　edge　of　an　up…market　estate。
　The　double　garage…doors　were　open　and　Bill　Tanner　stood　by　the　crimson　Lancia　already　drawn　back　from　Ihe　automatic　doors。　It　took　Bond　less　than　a　minute　to　change　cars；　reversing　the　Lancia　out　while　Tanner　nodded　and　drove　the　BMW　inlo　the　garage。　No　other　ears　came　near　and　Bond　crammed　an　unlikely　fishing　hat　on　his　head；　and　slipped　dark　glasses　over　his　eyes。　No　words　were　exchanged；　bul；　as　he　turned　the　Lancia　back　towards　the　main　road。　Bond　saw　the　garage…door　ing　down　to　hide　his　own　car。
　An　hour　later　he　had　negotiated　the　M5　Motorway；　and　taken　the　M4　fork　which　led　him　towards　London。　It　took　about　fifly　minutes　for　him　to　reach　the　Windsor　exit；　after　which　he　circled　the　smaller　roads；　still　watching　for　a　possible　tail。　It　was　a　lengthy；　painstaking　business　so　he　did　not　reach　his　destination　until　after　eleven；　purring　across　the　Windsor…Bagshot　road　and　looking　out　for　the　Squirrel　public　house　on　his　left；　then　the　gateway　of　simple　stone　on　the　right。
　He　turned　the　Lancia　ihrough　the　gateway　lo　see　the　familiar；　well…manicured　drive；　the　screen　of　silver　birch；　beech；　pine　and　oak　trees　which　stood　guard　over　the　rectangular　Regency　manor　house　of　weathered　Bath　stone。
　He　pulled　the　Lancia　around　Ihe　side　of　the　main　house；　parking　so　that　it　would　also　be　screened　by　the　trees　which；　as　he　knew　from　the　past；　were　not　the　only　proteciion　that　guarded　M's　beautiful　country　house　called；　nostalgically。　Quarterdeck。
　His　feet　crunched　on　the　gravel　as　he　approached　the　portico　and　grasped　the　thong　attached　to　the　gleaming　brass　bell；　once　that　of　some　long…forgotten　ship；　and　clanged　it　to　and　fro。　Seconds　later　the　stout　door　was　unbolted　from　inside　and　opened　to　reveal　M's　servant；　Davison。　who　had　replaced　the　faithful　ex…Chief　Petty　Officer　Hammond。
　'And　Mrs　Davison？　She　well？'　Bond　stepped　into　the　hall；　taking　in　the　familiar　scene　…　the　smell　of　polish　from　the　pine　panelling；　the　Victorian　hall　stand；　with　M's　old　Ulster　hanging　from　it；　and　Wellington　boots　set　nearby；　the　table　with　its　wonderfully…detailed　1。〃144　scale　model　of　the　battle　cruiser　Repulse；　M's　last　mand。
　'Mrs　Davison's　fit　as　a　flea；　sir　…　and　twice　as　nippy；　if　you　follow　my　drift。'
　'Indeed　I　do。　Davison。'　Bond　inclined　his　head　towards　the　model。　'Much　more　beautiful　than　（he　present　one；　eh？'
　'Don't　know　what　to　make　of　the　Andrew　any　more。　sir。　Carriers　that　aren't　carriers；　and　no　real　ships。　Not　like　in　the　old　days；　anyhow。''2
　The　present　Repulse　is　the　S23。　one　ot　the　Royal　Navy's　first　〃Resolution1　class　SSBN；　Polaris…armed　submarines。
　'Hanyway。　sir；　the　Hadmiral　is　expecting　you。'
　'Good。　Lead　the　way；　Davison。'
　The　former　CPO　knocked　loudly　on　the　thick；　heavy　Spanish　mahogany　door　and　M's　voice　sounded；　sharp；　from　behind　it　…　'e。'
　'Captain　James　Bon；d；　sir。'
　'Permission　to　e　aboard；　sir？'　Bond　smiled；　but　immediately　realised　that　his　smile　was　not　returned。
　M　did　not　open　the　conversation　until　the　door　was　closed　behind　them　but；　in　those　few　seconds。　Bond　took　in　the　entire　room。　It　was　still　as　neat　as　ever。　The　table　near　the　window；　with　water…colour　materials　laid　out　in　what　looked　like　a　parade…ground　precision；　the　old　naval　prints；　neatly　aligned　along　the　walls　and　M's　desk；　with　papers；　an　old　ink…stand。　leather　blotter；　calendar；　the　two　telephones；　one　ivory；　the　other　red；　all　in　perfect　order。
　'Well。'　M　began；　'this　had　better　be　good。　Bond。　There　was　a　specific　arrangement。　No　contacts　unless　you　fired　a　distress　signal。'
'Sir；　I　was　。　。　。'
　'If　you're　going　to　tell　me　someone　had　a　pot　shot　at　you　with　a　missile。　I　know　about　that；　just　as　Т　know　it　could　have　been　an　electronic　fault　in　your　aircraft　。　。　。'
　'With　respect；　sir。　That　was　no　electronic　fault。　There　are　other　matters　also。　I　wouldn't　break　field　rules　if　there　were　no
　reason。'
　M　motioned　to　an　armchair。　Bond　sat；　and　M　took　his　usual　place　behind　the　desk。　'You'd　better　。。。〃　he　was　cut　short　by　the　red　telephone　purring。　He　lifted　it　to　his　ear　saying　nothing。　Then　M　grunted　twice；　nodded　at　the　receiver　and　re…cradled　it。　'There　was　nobody　on　your　back；　anyway。　We're　sure　of　that。　Now；　if　you're　certain　about　the　missile　…　and　I'm　not　…what　did　you　e　to　talk　about'？'
　Bond　started　at　the　beginning　…　the　Sidewinder　doing　its　best　to　blow　him　out　of　the　sky。　then；　without　a　pause　he　went　on　with　the　story　of　First　Officer　Clover　Pennington。　'She　says　there　are　fifteen　Wrens　slated　for　attachment　in　invincible；　says　it's　mon　knowledge；　just　as　she　says　it's　mon　knowledge　that　I'm　going　to　be　there　as　well。　I　felt　it　vital　that　I　talk　directly　to　you。　sir。　This　is　a　security　matter；　and　1　don't　like　details　being　known　to　all　and　sundry。　Particularly　as　you　were　so　adamant　that　we　kept　to　strict　field　rules；　and　1　was　to　operate　under　deep　cover。　If　a　Wren　First　Officer's　blabbing　about　it；　how　do　we　know　these　BAST　people　haven't　got　everything　already？　Knowledge　lhat　the　three　admirals　are　going　to　be　in　Invincible；　knowing　I'm　their　Nanny；　responsible　for　their　safety？　Damn　it。　sir。　they　can　take　me　out　any　time　they　want。　For　all　we　know　that　Sidewinder　was　an　attempt　lo　remove　me。'
　M　remained　silent　for　a　full　minute；　then　cleared　his　throat。　'The　best　thing　would　be　lo　remove　young　First　Officer　Pennington　from　the　draft。'　he　growled。　'But；　if　she's　not　on　the　side　of　the　angels；　it　might　be　best　to　leave　her　in　play；　where　you　can　keep　an　eye　on　her。　It's　all　very　interesting　though；　especially　in　view　of　this。'　He　opened　a　plain　buff　tile　and　carefully　removed　two　stapled　pages；　handing　them　over　to　Bond。
　They　were　a　standard　maintenance　form；　dated　the　previous　day　and　referring　to　a　detailed　examination　of　the　Harrier　in　which　he　had　fiown　on　the　day　of　the　missile　incident。　Bond's　eyes　moved　down　the　pages；　taking　in　the　technical　detail　as　he　went。　Most　of　it　referred　to　a　pair　of　faulty　transponders；　part　of　the　internal　warning　system。　The　summary　and　conclusion　were　written　in　a　neat　hand　towards　the　bottom　of　the　second　page…
　
　'Nice　to　know　who's　on　your　side；　sir。　I　can　assure　you　there　was　no　transponder　failure。　That　was　a　missile；　and　First　Officer　Pennington　seems　to　be　doing　her　best　to　play　it　down。　To　cover　her　own　pretty　little　backside　do　you　think；　sir？'
　M　grunted；　took　back　the　report　then　looked　at　Bond　with　his　unflinching　damnably　clear　grey　eyes。　'You　are　absolutely；　one　hundred　per　cent　certain。　007。'
　〃Stake　my　life　on　it。　sir。'
　M　nodded　'In　the　circumstances；　while　it　would　appear　to　be　normal　security　to　have　this　young　woman　removed　from　the　draft　going　to　invincible；　I　prefer　to　leave　things　as　they　are。　At　least　you're　alerted。〃
　A　tap　at　the　door　brought　Davison　in　to　announce　that　luncheon　was　served。　'Nothing　much；　even　for　a　Sunday。〃　M　pulled　himself　from　his　chair。　'Kind　of　thing　you　like　though；　（H）7。　Cold　roast　beef；　new　potatoes　and　a　little　salad。　That　do　you？'
　'Make　a　change　from　wardroom　food；　sir。'
　'I'll　be　bound；'　M　gave　an　imitation　which　came　as　near　to　a　laugh　as　you　would　ever　get　from　him。　'Good　for　you。　Gel　all　the　more　unpleasant　chemicals　out　of　your　bloodstream。　Those　chi…chi　meals　you're　always　eating'll　be　the　death　of　you　yet。'
　Mrs　Davison　assisted　her　husband　to　serve　the　modest　meal　which　was　very　much　to　Bond's　taste　…　particularly　the　horseradish　sauce；　rough…cul　and　made　by　Mrs　Davison　herself。　'Calculated　to　clear　the　sinuses。〃　M　mented。　'Can't　do　with　that　namby…pamby　creamed　stuff　they're　always　serving　ihese　days。　Sans　taste；　sans　bite；　sans　everything　horseradish　should　be。〃
　When　they　were　alone　once　more。　Bond　slowly　introduced　the　question　that　had　been　most　on　his　mind　…　'Might　I　know；　sir；　exactly　why　we　have　to　put　up　with　fifteen　Wrens　in　Invincible'！　I'm　only　as　superstitious　as　the　next　sailor；　so　I　personally　think　of　it　as　bad　luck　…　women　on　a　naval　vessel。〃
　'Not　simply　superstitious；　but　a　solid　male　chauvinist　pig；　I'd　say。　Bond　…　whatever　male　chauvinist　pig　means；　dratted　bad　use　of　language　if　you　ask　me。　But　you've　asked　me　something　more　tricky。　Something　you　shouldn't　even　know；　and　I'm　not　sure　if　this　is　the　right　time　to　tell　you。　I　was　going　to　do　it　before　you　went　on　draft　to　Invincible；　of　course。〃　He　helped　himself　to　more　of　the　beef　and　a　large　spoonful　of　the　horseradish。　'My　story　was　going　to　be　that　the　Russkies're　bringing　at　least　one　female　Naval　Attache　with　them。　But　one　Russian　woman　does　not　equal　fifteen　Wrens；　does　it？〃
　〃Hardly〃　Bond　followed　his　Chiefs　lead　and　took　some　more　beef。
　'Then　here　goes；　007。　and　remember；　this　really　is　high　security　stuff；　classified　possibly　as　nothing　has　ever　been　classified　before　…　not　in　time　of　peace　anyway〃
　He　talked　for　over　half　an　hour；　and　Bond's　initial　surprise　at　what　M　said；　turned　into　a　whole　world　of　churning　worries　which　were　to　haunt　him　for　many　weeks　to　e。
　At　six　o'clock　that　evening；　James　Bond　made　the　return　journey　to　the　RNAS　at　Yeovilton；　via　a　small　car…changing　charade　in　Cheddar。　Now　he　knew　the　entire　enterprise　and　could　see　that　the　covert　action　which　appeared　to　be　in　motion　via　BAST　had　pushed　him　into　one　of　the　most　difficult　and　dangerous　assignments　he　had　ever　been　forced　to　undertake。
　While　Bond　and　M　were　meeting　in　the　house　near　Windsor　Great　Park；　anoth